Horsey Mere

Water stretches endlessly towards the horizon, broken only by the occasional windmill and reed beds that sway like green curtains in the Norfolk breeze. Horsey Mere sits at the northern edge of the Broads, offering one of the most expansive views in this watery landscape - a proper big sky country moment that feels worlds away from the seaside bustle of Great Yarmouth just down the coast.

This isn't a manicured viewpoint with benches and interpretation boards. It's raw Norfolk at its most elemental, where the mere blends seamlessly with grazing marshes and distant dunes. Birdwatchers absolutely love it here - the reed beds teem with life and the open water draws everything from marsh harriers to bitterns. Families might find it a bit underwhelming unless the kids are into wildlife or wide open spaces.

The viewing area is accessible year-round and costs nothing, though autumn and winter bring the most dramatic skies and the best chance of spotting seals that sometimes venture this far inland from the coast. Allow an hour if you're just taking in the view, longer if you fancy a proper walk along the water's edge. From Waxham Sands Holiday Park, it's barely a ten-minute drive, making it a lovely detour for anyone staying along this stretch of the Norfolk coast who wants to see the Broads without venturing deeper inland.